This photo depicts my current feelings about my hair right. this. very. moment.

I hate it.

But thanks to the magic of modern cosmetology I will soon love it as I am just about to get it “done”.

What is it about hair coloring that feels so freaking awesome?

And what is it about choosing a certain shade or highlight that makes you feel YOU (more…)

Yesterday had a theme, right from the moment I woke up and that theme was BODY IMAGE.

First off on Facebook I was greeted by another giant album of family photos that my aunt furiously tagged – with every other photo of myself taken during my ridiculously awkward and self perceived ugly phase.

Then on Stumbleupon I found a particularly poignant documentary about Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I was instantly hooked by the title “Too Ugly for Love”.

When I checked my email a photo sent to me of me on a bicycle pulled my scanning eyeballs directly to what seemed to be a pooching tummy and prompted a couple paranoid thoughts to bubble up about my current weight (the heaviest I’ve ever been after years and years of being underweight). They say (more…)

In a world with cookie cutter beauty queens and glammed up reality tv starlets the idea of standing out with one’s own can seem a bit daunting. The mom’s that proudly rock there own unique look with grace are truly wonderful and give their daughters a wonderful head start in the world where image is king.

My own mom shirked a lot of tradition in the realm of beauty – not born a buxom blonde she had to work with what she had: long limbs, brown hair, freckly skin. As I was growing up I noticed her penchant for cool.  On a whim and because she could she went ahead and got a bunch of piercings. But rather than having them spread freakishly over her body she just had them all along her ears. It was quirky and weird and very unlike everyone else’s mom. She didn’t need to push her standard of beauty in everyone’s face, but was happy to show was quirky and interesting but still professional and approachable. Nowadays she’s simplified her routine a little so there isn’t as many earrings, but just the fact that she was confident enough to reclaim her own beauty in a unique way has been very inspiring to me.

My mom just doesn’t  let the rest of the world make unreasonable demands on how she looks. She cuts her hair short, dyes it red herself, and doesn’t get too fussy with the makeup. Lucky for me she hasn’t force fed her own concept of beauty down my throat – allowing for a very different expression as I take inspiration from women’s magazines and celebrity style. But her influence has definitely taken root. No matter how much I take to a mainstream trend or look I always have to shape it to my own body, infuse it with my own personality.

My mom is beautiful this way and as a result so am I.

Since Mother’s Day is coming up I’ve been wondering how much of my own personality has been influenced by my mom’s. Am I my own mothers daughter? If not how has her example affected my life and values?  What of that of my girlfriends?

So I’ve decided this month to write about the ways in which my mother and other mother’s out there have shaped their daughters lives. Feel free to share your own examples with me here in the comments or email me.

Are we our mothers daughters? From fashion to beauty, work to play, our sexuality to body image lets take a look at the lessons our mother’s have lovingly shared with us.

Mother’s do a heckuva lot for us – more than just one day of chocolates and flowers warrants!

photo credit: Mubina H

Get your POWER GIRL on!

Apryl here – So I’m revamping the content yet again and got some goodness up my sleeve, and in the works (I just gotta get my busy butt in gear to bake it up fresh for ya :) hehe). Why stay tuned in? Cause I’m rolling out the helpfulness for sure – Dealing with your Guy (even when they drive you nuts), How to work your job like a Rockstar (whether you work at home, an office, or do it hobostyle at your favorite coffee shop), Attitude shifts and Lifehacks for the Ladies, and of course all the Fashion and Beauty goodness that is real and wonderful!

Will share soon – so I’ll see ya here for the goodness ;)

HEART!

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When I was studying being an Image Consultant extraordinaire (#ahem wardrobe stylist) someone told me that you gotta look good all the time – never trip up.

My brain gnawed on that concept for years.

It made perfect sense to me to be that way in public  because that seemed to spell success. But I knew the reality of imperfection. I also knew my passion for dressing up every day of the year as awesomely and fabulously as possible would be trumped by a few things like…the need to just take an effin nap, or get my ass out the door on time. And a lot of feedback I get from galpals and other girls is ya’ll feel the same – sometimes it’s just too much work to look like Little Miss Perfect. (more…)

Lately I wonder – Is my skin maturing yet? Up close?

It’s been a couple years since my milestone 30th birthday. At the time of it I tried real hard not to freak out over all the doom and gloom that “it all goes downhill” and instead took comfort in my naturally youthful feature’s longevity.

Yet, a seed of doubt was planted back then, I must admit. Now I’m scrutinizing moisturizers and trying not to squint so damn much in a day lest my face all come crumbling down overnight or something horrid.

And really – it isn’t all that bad in reality. It’s really a beautiful time to live in now! There’s bucketloads of amazing youthful retaining products plus tons of research validating all those years I spent OUT of the sun.

Yep my mid 30’s look and feel just fine. Hell 40 looks pretty sunny even!

Meanwhile my photo collection of hot old chicks is growing and giving me plenty of beautiful inspiration for when the laugh lines and crows feet get just a bit more deep.

Character AND Beauty…nice!

photo credit: galaxies and hurricanes

photo credit: Shandi-Lee

Ready! Set! GO! Since I’m unofficially but enthusiastically deeming 2011 as the YEAR OF THE HOT GIRL there’s naturally a whole attitude that goes with that. Living up to the awesomeness of this year means you gotta get into right sexy mindset mkay? So here’s another list of Do’s and Don’ts for you, carefully gathered from my own personal experience and that of some of the top hot girls out there.

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DO: BE Yourself!

This is at the top of the list for a reason girls – as in I want you to DO THIS FIRST! Every day, every hour, every minute you gotta be rocking your authentic nature. This is the key to being a true Hot Girl and necessary for living the #hotgirllifestyle. (more…)

Here’s to rocking this New Year as your signature sexy self!

You’ve got the right stuff already – I’ll show you how to work it your best way with plenty of tips, tricks, and girl friendly strategies. So stay tuned in and share in the awesome!

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photo credit: Raul Tejero